Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-19
They stood like stone stat,,as

Inc Colonel left the ground. pale and
'lempllng. He called for his horse ond
rode over to brigade headquarters. The
General was at breakfast. He heard tho
story OF the excited officer.
Is there any other reason for this thon
me dissatisfaction of the men about not
pelng paid, clothed and fed?"
NO, sir; and didn't Knows
VINO I'll the devil cares what you didn't
Know l, There never was mutiny vet but
ene olncers were to blame for it. Go back
ana assemble all your commissioned Off
Ger r;, ana hrst sergeants in rear of your line
VIII come over in ten minutes"
The Colonel departed; the General
called up his staff, dispatched them in DIFF
ierent directions, and then mounted his
morse and rode over to the mutinous repi-
ment. ''-Ao0' Aest-
Inc officers and the orderlies were al
fea,ty drawn up in three lines. The Cen
era! addressed each and everv man in this
fashion: N|N''-' - '1--'
Colonel Blank, do you refuse duty?"
NO, sir"
Lieutenant Colonel Blank, do you re-
fuse duty?"
No, sir"
Major Blank, do you refuse duty?"
So it went, right down through all
grades, to the Orderly Sergeant of Com
pany X.
grim smile of satisfaction appeared
under the heavy mustache.
It'll end this thing now in short order"
he said. "Follow me, and stand behind
me while talk to them.
Inc mutinous regiment was still in line
behind the stacks, standing and lying about
at ease. The General took his place in
front of the center, with the officers and
sergeants behind him. He commanded
Attention." and every man was on his
feet in ON instant, in the position of the
soldier.
Meantime, some alarming things had
happened. Another infantry regiment of
the brigade had marched up and formed
line in front of the mutineers. A light
battery galloped in on each flank, unlim-
bered, and got their guns into position.
Two of the Generals aids were observed
going about among these troops. The
mutineers heard the order: LOAD at will
-load!" They heard hammers springing
in the barrels of the muskets, and the
clicking of hundreds of hammers, as the
guns were capped. They heard the orders
of the battery captains: LOAD with grape
and canister!" They began to see that they
were in decidedly tight place.
"Now, men of the - Regiment the
General vociferated, this thing has gone
far enough. Either you or the United
States will give in; think it will be you.
If you have any grievances, l will hear
them by and by, and you shall have justice;
that promise you, but make no terms,
nor conditions. want obedience, and by
IN have it! I'll give you just one order;
if you don't obey it, I retire behind these
frnNY,a 0ffS I>o
blown to hell in second! say it! you
know me! Now-take-arms!"
His order was like thunderclap. The
order was obeyed as if by machinery. The
stacks were broken; the muskets were
taken; the line stood at shouldered arms.
And then the veteran General almost
broke down.
stack them again, Colonel" he said.
"I1l talk to them in q moment"
When the arms were stacked again, the
General passed along the front and talked
to the soldiers in familiar way. He told
them that discipline was the beginning and
the end of the soldiers life; that unques-
tioning obedience was his first rule; that
they had the right to complain of abuses,
and should have done SO in this case. II
seen to your complaint had it reached me;
but never try to right your wrongs in this
way. You disgrace yourselves as soldiers,
you cast discredit on your comrades, and
the power of the government is sure to
crush you.
Some of the men were moved to tears;
all were deeply affected. The lessons OF
the morning were not exhausted until the
General had summoned the officers to his
headquarters, and given them such a
lecture on their duties in caring for their
men as they who know "the old man" can
best appreciate.
The regiment was heard of afterward.
This was the only questionable episode in
its career. Fields Of glory and of blood
attested its devotion to the cause.